I love using chargers in a table setting. They add so much to a table, another lovely layer that beautifully highlights the other plates in the place setting.

Over the past 10 years I’ve gradually added to my charger collection whenever I’ve found them on sale or greatly discounted. I’ve also enjoyed making them when a design I wanted wasn’t available anymore, or was more than I wanted to spend.

I’ve been thinking of adding some wood chargers to my collection for a few years now, but whenever I priced them, they were really expensive. For example, these wood chargers that are currently available in Ballard Designs are $129 for just two chargers. That’s $64.50 per charger! Yikes!

I’m not crazy about these anyway because they are super thick, measuring 1-3/4 inches high. That’s almost two inches thick. I just don’t care for how that looks.

Recently I was shopping the fall dinnerware in Pottery Barn and came across these bark-edged chargers. That re-lit the wood charger flame idea all over again. I was super tempted to buy some since they were on sale 30% off. Originally priced at $29.50, 30% off took the price down to around $20.65 per charger. Not too bad and definitely better than $64 per charger! I also liked that they weren’t too thick, just 1 inch in thickness. Much better!

I didn’t buy any that day, deciding to go home and look online to see what else was available. I also wanted to verify the width of the Pottery Barn Chargers. I don’t like it when chargers are not a full 13 inches wide. Less than 13 inches works fine for a “luncheon” size plate, but often looks too small under a full size dinner plate. If a charger is much larger than 13 inches, the plate can look lost on the charger. 13 inches is pretty much the ideal width for most chargers.

During my research online, I discovered that the chargers I had seen in Pottery Barn are 12.5 inches in diameter, a little smaller than I would prefer. These 1/2 inches are killing me lately. lol If it’s not doors, it’s chargers! 😉 By the way, the door has been replaced and looks so much better. I will share a photo of how it looks in a future post soon.

Here’s a photo of one of the Pottery Barn chargers. I’m not sure what type wood this is, the information online just says “Made of wood.”

In this photo from the website, here’s how the 12.5 inch PB charger looks in a place setting. This is kind of an awkward angle since you can see up under the plate, so look at the sides for a better indication of how much of the charger is showing around the sides. You’ll find the PB chargers available here: Wood Charger.

Since I was hoping to find wood chargers that were a full 13 inches in width, I kept looking. Then I came across these below…so pretty! I really loved the look of the wood and they were only $16.99 each. Not bad! That was the best price I had found, yet!

I read the reviews and some folks were saying when they received their chargers, they were different sizes. I noticed in the description online it said they could range in size from 12 to 15 inches. Ummm, that’s a pretty big range.

So I got an idea. Since I only wanted 6-8 chargers, I decided to order a dozen thinking that I would hopefully receive at least six that were 13 inches in width. Then I’d just return the extras. (These chargers are available here: Wood Chargers.)

They arrived and they are gorgeous! I love, love, love the wood! It’s Acacia wood from the Acacia tree. I also love how they are all slightly different, each with its own personality.

I measured each charger and discovered I had received the following: two 12-inch chargers, eight 13-inch chargers and two 14-inch chargers. I kept all eight of the 13″ chargers and decided to go ahead and keep the two 14″ chargers thinking they would come in handy to place under a serving platter or maybe even in a centerpiece at some point. I returned the two 12″ chargers.

In the photo below, the two larger, 14-inch chargers are stacked on top of each other in the center of the table. This photo is taken with my cell phone which has a wide-angle lens, so it sorta skews the view making the charger on the end look stretched out and larger, but it’s 13 inches in size like the others.

Can you tell that the two in the center are about an inch wider than all the others around them? The two stacked in the center are 14-inches wide and all the others are 13-inches in width. Isn’t the wood absolutely beautiful!?

I also love that they aren’t too thick in height. The online description says they are 1.7 inches in height, but that’s incorrect. I have no idea where they got that measurement. I measured mine and they are all right at 1-inch in height, which is perfect!

Here’s how a 13″ charger looks with a plate on top. Looks just as it should with the right amount of charger showing all the way around the outer edge.

When I was in the store returning the two 12-inch chargers that I didn’t keep, out of curiosity I looked t0 see if they had any in stock. This was all they had. Apparently the stores don’t stock very many, but thankfully they have plenty available online. If you’ve been looking for reasonably priced wood chargers, you’ll find these available here: Wood Bark Chargers.

If you order any of these and you are picky like me about keeping the size consistent and around 13 inches, order more than you need, then just return the others. If you get a couple of really large ones like I did, you may want to keep those to use as serving trays or to go underneath a large platter. I’m glad a couple of mine were 14-inches for that reason.

I can’t wait to create a table setting with these! They will be so beautiful for a woodsy Thanksgiving table or really any fall table setting. I could also see using them for Halloween and Christmas.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear Friends! See you Monday for Metamorphosis Monday!

Comments

Love them. Wish they made more square chargers. I have round plates but due to a house sitter breaking a plate I’ve had to alternate square plates with round plates for my table seating 8. I love the look of the alternate shapes but wish I could get chargers that would work.

Yes, I’ll go ahead and be the first to say it–size does matter 😀 It would be so disappointing if chargers were so small that the edges don’t show, almost pointless, so I can see why you persisted in finding the right ones. Looking forward to the tablescape with these!

Thanks Susan. I just recently returned 12 wooden chargers that I bought at $19.99 each. I really didn’t want to spent that much but I really wanted wooden chargers!! So after biting the bullet, was excited when they arrived. After placing my dishes on top you couldn’t even see the chargers. After measuring I found they were only 11 to 11 1/4 inches. I wasn’t willing to pay that much just to see the bark on the side of the charger when you stood to the side of the table, therefore the reason they were returned. I will definitely will be ordering some from Target.

I don’t blame you, Gail…I would have returned them, too. I’m not sure why they make them that size since they don’t work for most dinner plates. I love these, hope they work great for you, too! I recommend ordering more than you need since they vary in size, then just return any that are under 13 inches.

I’m harkening back to your post on September 30th about the Safari Bags. I LOVE them, and although I am still somewhat of a fashion follower, though not as much as when I was younger, I have never seen or heard of them. They are so beautiful and whimsical, at the same time. Thanks so much for sharing!

Ha! It’s the story of my life, Kathleen! 🙂 I don’t know if you remember when I was trying to put an Expedit in my office closet. I was going through the same type thing with those little teeny fractions! lol If you missed that craziness, you’ll find it here: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/ikea-expedit-hack-how-i-made-it-work/
I finally made it work from sheer stubborness!
Oh, I love that idea! I think that little family needs to make another appearance on the blog bringing home their tree again. 🙂

Again, I’m laughing out loud. Such a good story…laying down on your back to screw in the panel and then handling that heavy piece all by yourself with make shift items…incredible–really! Then I followed another link back to 2012 re the office and again, your writing has me amused. I had a struggle with wallpaper too. I never saw so much glue in my life. It looked like cookie dough and just kept coming and coming off the wall…it dripped down the ladder. I had gouges too because I used a metal scraper and then I got smart and used a credit card. Anyway, Susan, your hard work pays off and your home is beautiful and I do enjoy getting mail from you. Keep it coming.

Haha, I just created a fall tablescape today using my wood chargers. I like those from Target a lot. I purchased mine from an Etsy dealer last year. They make for a very organic setting, really good for any season. I first used mine Spring for a nature’s way tablescape.

Susan, I’m a fan of using chargers as well, and have a nice assortment. In fact we have some of the same ones. I’ve always loved the look of the wood slice, but have never added these. Instead, I continued to collect antique bread boards when I found them large enough. Unfortunately I never find them 13″, so I’ve settled for 12″ or just under. It’s not ideal, but I love the look. It has taken me years to find ones I wanted, but that was part of the fun. I finally had enough last year for Thanksgiving.
You are going to have fun using these with all different place settings. The darling dapper animal plates from West Elm might be fun paired with these. Can’t wait to see what you put together through the year.

Antique wood boards sound beautiful, Sarah! I love that idea! I found all my dapper animal plates when I was sorting through dishes to put in the garage cabinets. It’s time to bring them back out to play. 🙂

I have to laugh…you are anal just like me about that half inch. It can bother and bug me ’til it is corrected! Can’t wait to see what you do with the chargers. I was thinking a fall table or the Christmas dishes with the animals on them. I live to see your tablescapes!!!

lol Yes, I am! I can’t help it! 🙂
Thanks so much, Mary! I love those dishes so much. I need to watch when they come out this year because I have a friend who wants to buy some and she knows they sell out quickly. It won’t be long before they start appearing in Wally World…if they do bring them back.

Oh my gosh, we are on the same way length. I’ve been looking for 2 years now, but like you said just too expensive. I was in Target last week and they had 4 but 3 looked smaller so I purchased the largest to take home and try. I am using it as a centerpiece under my soup tureen and it is 13 ” round and 1″ high. I love it. I was thinking of making our own, with 1 acre of woods it just makes sense, but I don’t have a band saw. May have to talk to a few neighbors and see if they do , hehe. I have cream colored plates with an outer small ring of orange and a small design of pumpkins, leaves and acorns at the edge . It looks so pretty with the wooden charger underneath, can’t wait to get more!

In Ohio, we are enudated with dead Ash trees. Had a friend use a log cut into segments about 18 inches long. Her husband used a circular saw to cut them into 3/4 inch discs. She then put them in the oven to kill any potential borers. They then protected them with polyurethane. They were beautiful as the cornerstone of the centerpieces for our high school reunion.

Oh Susan, you r killing my budget and adding to my storage woes! Earlier this week is was the twig flatware I’ve long wanted – ordered two sets, service for 8 from Pier 1. Today I was at Target and took home two chargers and ordered the rest. I’m not even home for Thanksgiving this year to show them off! My hubby is going to just groan about finding where to store them….

I love those chargers and the wood patterns. Can’t wait to see what you do with them.
We lost a lot of trees in this area because of Irma, so I emailed the city manager with the idea to slice some up to give away and make bags of mulch out of the rest to keep them out of the landfill.

Oh Thank you for this post! I had bought 6 last year from Target and totally forgot I wanted 6 more! So I just went today (measuring tape in purse, I also like them 13″) and got 4 more. Fortunately most of the Targets around here have some in stock, so I’ll keep on looking – I only need 8 at the moment, so I’m happy!

I ordered mine wood cut chargers on Etsy………love supporting home businesses. I used them starting the in the fall and my Christmas table would not be complete without them! If you’re looking for serving pieces in the same style, check out http://bit.ly/2y958La

I got the wood charger bug last year too and we made them from a fallen tree in our wood, cured them in the oven overnight and then lightly sanded and sealed (no shine).
I used them for my daughter’s winter white baby shower (wood accents), thanksgiving dinner and out on the porch for Christmas dinner with the woodland tree! I think I ended up with 20 or so.
I have used them many ways, under candles, on a 3 tier plate stand, on a buffet under dishes…they truly are useful and since they were nearly free I love them even more!
I love the wood on yours! Think outside the charger box and I think you’ll use them a ton too!

I stopped at the Dollar Tree yesterday and was so excited to discover their new chargers — they are a little thicker than the usual ones they carry and they have the look of a burnished wood or leather. You would never guess they are dollar chargers. I didn’t take a picture of the ones I bought because I thought I could use one I found on the internet but apparently they are too new, and I think they will sell out quickly!

They are plastic but you can’t tell unless you look underneath. They are much nicer than the average dollar tree charger and will mix and match with many dishes and tablescape themes. I will try to take some photos and send them along.